Haiggejstton#  for  Leaner#  of 
'Bo?#’  3tpt##tonary  ^octette# 

Ages  from  15  to  18 


'TT'SSUMING  that  the  leader  is  one  who 
attracts  boys,  the  first  requirement  is  to 
have  the  boys  understand  that  missions  are  as 
interesting  as  anything  else.  In  fact,  that  the 
leader  is  rather  doing  them  a  favor  by  letting 
them  get  hold  of  such  attractive  information  a3 
can  be  found  in  missionary  literature. 

The  second  thing  is  to  suggest  a  small  mis¬ 
sionary  library  that  will  be  desirable.  Ask  them 
if  they  will  lend  the  library  any  books  on  the 
countries  where  the  missions  of  our  Church  are 
established. 

Appoint  a  reading  committee  to  see  whether 
these  books  are  worth  a  place  on  the  small  shelf. 
It  is  a  good  thing  to  have  the  shelf  small,  as  it 
may  serve  as  an  excuse  for  rejecting  some  unde¬ 
sirable  book. 

Secure  a  few  interesting  missionary  books  on 
approval. 

Ask  your  committee  to  read  them,  making 
very  clear  to  them  that  you  do  not  want  them 
to  read  in  any  book  a  chapter  more  than  they 
find  interesting,  because  you  want  to  have  only 
interesting  missionary  books  on  the  shelf.  Also 
because  you  do  not  want  to  spend  any  more 
money  than  is  absolutely  necessary,  etc. 

The  committee  can  be  made  to  feel  their 
responsibility  in  such  a  way  that  they  read  such 
books  as  are  interesting  without  realizing  that 
part  of  your  object  has  been  to  benefit  the  com¬ 
mittee. 

It  is  sometimes  possible  to  have  the  reading 
committee  add  to  their  number  other  boys 


whose  opinion  would  also  be  of  value  before 
the  great  step  of  finally  selecting  the  books  is 
taken.  When  a  committee  of  four  or  five  bovs 
have  read  the  same  four  or  five  books,  you  will 
have  little  or  no  trouble  in  circulating  the  books 
among  the  rest  of  the  Society. 

While  the  committee  are  reading  the  books, 
a  waiting  list  can  be  started  in  a  more  or  less 
formal  way;  but  the  fact  that  the  reading  com¬ 
mittee  have  indorsed  the  books  is  all  that  is 
usually  necessary. 

The  same  process  is  gone  through  with  new 
books  that  you  wish  to  add  to  the  library. 

Put  your  library  where  it  is  a  little  in  the 
way,  and  do  not  have  any  locks  on  it.  Do  as 
the  best  public  libraries  do:  Make  the  books  in 
everv  wav  accessible  at  all  times. 

J  ✓ 

H  ave  a  blank  book  and  pencil,  both  tied  to 
the  case,  with  instructions  on  the  cover  of  the 
book  somewhat  as  follows: 

“How  to  take  out  a  book:  Write  your  name 
and  the  name  of  the  book  and  the  date,  and 
when  you  bring  it  back,  scratch  out  the  entry. ” 

You  have  a  librarian,  but  the  librarian  never 
asks  for  the  return  of  the  book.  All  that  is  nec¬ 
essary  is  some  such  remark  as,  “I  see  you  have 
taken  out  a  book  on  Africans  it  not  interesting?” 

This  opens  up  a  conversation  in  which  you 
can  learn  if  the  book  has  been  read,  and  if  not, 
why  not.  Perhaps  it  is  a  misfit.  In  that  case, 
it  is  all  important  that  you  should  know  it,  for 
you  can  often  say,  “Why,  of  course,  I  can  see 
how  that  book  would  not  be  interesting  to  you. 
The  fact  is,  it  is  a  reference  book  or  a  text 
book,”  or  for  one  reason  or  another  is  not 
meant  for  casual  reading.  Then  name  another 
book,  which  would  not  have  that  difficulty,  and 
tell  him  you  are  sure  he  will  like  it.  Tell  him 
to  take  that  one  out  next. 


2 


The  library,  beginning  as  the  peculiar  prop¬ 
erty  of  the  Society  or  class  could  well  have  iis 
circulation  extend,  like  the  Tabard  Jnn  Library, 
and  the  missionary  enthusiasm  of  the  boys 
would  find  a  natural  and  healthy  outlet.  The 
library  of  the  Society  would  then  become  the 
library  of  the  parish. 

A  second  way  in  which  the  boys’  interest 
could  be  given  expression  might  well  be  in 
soliciting  subscriptions  to  The  Spirit  of  Mis¬ 
sions.”  The  Society  has  of  course  subscribed 
to  it;  the  boys  are  familiar  with  it  and  the  busi¬ 
ness  ability  and  energy  of  the  members  could  be 
put  to  work,  with  the  new  enthusiasm  making 
a  strong  combination.  Business  ability  consists 
very  largely  in  the  ability  or  inability  to  sell 
things.  The  training  secured  by  a  travelling 
man  is  invaluable  to  him,  when,  afterwards,  he 
obtains  a  higher  place  in  the  firm.  Securing 
subscriptions  for  The  Spirit  of  Missions  is  just 
such  a  beginning  of  a  business  training.  Inci¬ 
dentally,  there  is  a  percentage  given  to  those 
who  wish  to  canvass  for  The  Spirit  of  Missions. 
A  certain  per  cent,  is  allowed  the  boy  for  each 
new  subscriber.  This  percentage  is  increased 
if  he  will  allow  the  amount  to  apply  on  the 
general  missionary  offering  made  by  his  Society. 

But  there  is  literary  ability  as  well  as  business 
ability  among  the  boys.  Some  of  them  know 
what  it  is  to  edit  or  report  for  a  school  paper. 
Many  of  them  would  enjoy  such  work  if  they 
knew  of  it.  It  is  possible  to  utilize  such  literary 
tastes  by  having  a  missionary  magazine  written 
and  edited  by  the  members  of  the  Society.  Let 
it  be  published  once  a  month.  When  the  issue 
is  written,  the  articles  pasted  together  in  maga¬ 
zine  form,  perhaps  with  a  cover  specially 
designed,  you  have  a  paper  containing  facts 
from  the  field.  There  would  need  to  be  a  head 


3 


editor,  and  perhaps  two  assistants,  and  a  set  of 
reporters.  There  will  be  assignments.  Certain 
ones  will  be  required  to  bring  in  interesting 
missionary  facts;  others  required  to  review  recent 
books;  others  to  write  editorials,  etc. 

A  somewhat  similar  adaptation  of  this  would 
be  for  the  Society  to  have  a  missionary  notice 
board,  upon  which  each  week  would  be  pasted 
brief  notices,  striking  facts  in  the  mission  work, 
of  which  most  people  are  ignorant.  The  adver¬ 
tising  ability  of  the  members  of  the  class  could 
be  brought  into  play,  so  as  to  change  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  notices,  in  color,  type,  handwriting 
or  the  signs  attracting  attention  to  the  board  so 
as  to  prevent  it  from  being  forgotten  by  the 
members  of  the  parish.  Of  course  this  bulletin 
board  would  be  put  in  a  prominent  place  and 
probably  labelled  “  Missionary  Bulletin  of 
.  .  .  .  Society.”  Or  “For  particulars, 

inquire  of  so  and  so.  Secretary.” 

In  the  same  Society  there  may  be  oratorical 
or  dramatic  instincts.  If  so,  use  them.  Plan 
for  a  debate,  “Resolved,  That  medical  work  is 
more  useful  than  educational  work  in  the  mission 
field.”  Have  the  speakers  chosen  provided 
with  definite  material  and  not  too  much  of  it 
and  let  the  debate  be  as  business-like  as  possible. 
Later  on,  if  the  boys  wish,  they  might  repeat 
the  debate  or  have  a  similar  one,  inviting  their 
own  guests  to  listen.  There  are  brief  mission¬ 
ary  plays  which  have  been  found  useful.  The 
fact  of  an  audience  at  a  missionary  play  opens 
the  way  for  a  great  deal  of  missionary  instruction. 

Vary  your  methods,  constantly  keeping  in 
mind  the  object  of  your  organization,  and  above 
all  in  your  own  reading  about  missions,  pray 
for  them  and  work  for  them  and  keep  in  advance 
of  the  most  enthusiastic  member  of  your  Society. 

Leaflet  No.  }oo}. 

Aug.  ’o8-zm  C.  P. 

Printed  by  The  Calumet  Pkhss,  New  Tori 


